The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-12
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
THE CONDITION OF CROPS FOR THE
MONTH OF MAY.


Dft1Ine in the Average of Wheat Com
Iired with other Years-Average by
3eates The Season Advanced In All
Parts of the Country-washington.
4 WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE report of the
department. of agriculture for May relates
b the condition of winter grain progress Of
pring plowing, and proportion Of the pro-
posed cotton area already planted. 1t indi-
oates decline in the condition of wheat Of
two points since April l. The general
average for the whole country being SO
against 05 at the same date in 1856, 70 in
1885, and "a in 1884.
The changes in condition have not been
uniform throughout the winter wheat re-
gton, some states showing an increase, the
majority slight decline and few heavy
falling off The states of the middle At
lsntic coast from Pennsylvania to North
Carolina show some Improvement, seasonal
bic weather having aided the plant in recov-
ering more than was expected from the in
Jury done by the trying season during Feb
Tuary and March. In New York and New
Jersey the amount of winter killing was not
fully known on April l, and this with cold,
rkfavorable weather during the month has
caused a serious reduction in condition
Drought has reduced the average some-
what in the eastern gulf states, and has
wrought very serious damage in Texas and
Arkansas lowering condition during the
month nineteen and ten points respectively.
Favorable temperature and seasonable rains
have improved the prospect in Tennessee,
West Virginia and Kentucky, condition
being considerably higher in these states
than it has averaged in many for the past
Ave years.
The most serious reduction of the month Is
b Ohio, where there is falling off Of eight
/, points since the 1st of April, due to the con-
kinuing evil effects of the alternate freezing
ana thawing noted in the last report, and to
the cold dry weather during the greater
part of April, which gave the injured plant
little chauce for recuperation. A favorable
season after April might have, in great
measure, repaired the injury done up to that
time but the continued unfavorable condi-
lions have wrought still further damage and
small crop is now inevitable. Michigan
and Indiana show slight decline, while in
Illinois and Missouri there is gain Of one
point Unfavorable weather in Kansas and
California has caused slight falling off,
while in Oregon the prospect has advanced,
It being the only state in which condition
reaches one hundred.
\ The averages of condition by states are:
New York, So; Pennsylvania, ~; Maryland,
64; Virginia, 80 North Carolina, 80; Texas,
90; Arkansas, 81; Tennessee, 90; West Vir-
ginia, SO; Kentucky, 05; Kentucky, II; Mich
lgan, co. Indiana, 81; Illinois, 93; Missouri,
o.; Kansas, ST. California, SO; Oregon, 101.
Rye has suffered from the same conditions
which have injuriously affected wheat, but
on account of its harder nature, the general
average is considerably higher, standing at
90S against 92 on April l, and IS. I at the
same date in 1885.
The condition of barley is low, the average
being SIS against 96. in May 1886, and 50
In 1885.
The season has been more generally ad-
vanced in all parts of the country than usual,
spring plowing being seriously behind only
on the Atlantic coast south to Pennsylvania,
and on the Pacific slope. In these sections it
has been delayed by cold and excessive
moisture Elsewhere the work is ahead Of
an average year, the season, especially
during April, having been generally favora-
BILE with temperature above the normal, and
rainfall at minimum. The proportion al
ready done on May l is estimated at so per
cent of the whole, while the amount usually
\ completed at that date is about rs per cent.
y, The portion of cotton already planted
lamounts to more than four-fifths of the pro-
i posed area and is slightly greater than at
D The same date in any of the preceding years,
Z but it is a little less than the proportion re-
turned by the correspondents as the average
4 planting at that date, The proportions by
states are: North Carolina, 70; South Caro-
2 lima, 80; Georgia, s5; Alabama, 50; Missis-
4 sippi, "a; Louisiana, So; Texas, SO; Arkansas,
= 80; Tennessee, So There is some complaint
of slow termination and poor stand on ac-
count of drouth at time of planting in some
sections, but with favorable weather, re-
planting is rapidly filing all gaps.